VAR coming to Turkey’s second division

Turkey plans on tackling the issue of refereeing in the country by introducing Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in the the second tier of Turkish football.

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has decided to introduce video assistant referee (VAR) in the country’s second division of football, the Spor Toto 1 Lig. VAR is also going to be put into action in the FIFA World Cup this summer, set to kick off next month in Russia.

It was tested in various friendlies in Turkey but for the first time ever, it will be used in official matches. TFF has made status changes ahead of the playoff matches in the 1.Lig.

According to the new status, VAR will be used during the semifinals on May 11 and 15 and the final game to be held on May 19. The four 1.Lig clubs have agreed on introducing VAR in the playoff games. The last team to advance to Super Lig will be determined in playoff games. The referees and VAR system will be online during these matches.

Live TV broadcasters will feed the VAR system with images. The on-field referee would be able to ask for help from VAR or the system will aid the referee in tricky scenarios.

The referee would also be able to come to the sideline and watch the video before deciding on a goal, penalty, or showing a direct red card. The role of VAR still remains unclear after more questions over consistency. It will be used throughout the World Cup in Russia this year after FIFA’s rule-making panel voted to write VARs into the laws of football.

“I was skeptical at the beginning but without trying things you can’t know what they are worth,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

“That’s why we carried out trials in those 1,000 matches. There are facts: referees make one important mistake one in every three, with VAR it is every 19.”

VAR will not be used in the English Premier League next season after clubs voted against it and the system remains very much unproven with the World Cup sure to bring up further issues about its value.